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Andy Black
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Yes! People often can’t test what they’ve done because they’re too messy and/or done too many steps in one rather than build the spreadsheet up gradually - testing as they go. I’ll naturally address that, but it’s a good idea to point it out too. Thanks @WJK.One of my continuing ed classes for my commercial real estate appraiser's license was all about Excel pivot tables. I'm not sure how much of it stuck with me after the class.
I've used Excel for years -- but Andy is right. Most spreadsheets use very few of the features available in the program. The place where many features become important is where one is setting up a template for a specific result. I like to fill in some basic numbers into a set of cells, which are linked to the calculation cells -- sometimes in several linked spreadsheets or infographics. I want the program to do the heavy lifting for me.
I have one spreadsheet that figures my Borough sales taxes for my rentals. I fill in the basic numbers and the spreadsheet run those numbers by applying the tax rules and exemptions. It saves me hours every quarter when I must write those reports. BUT, setting up the calculation cells took a lot of time -- and then I had to do the critical testing to make sure the cells were both working and working together correctly. That seems to be the sticking point for most people who haven't use Excel that much. They don't understand the testing aspects when setting up a new spreadsheet. That may be a place where a class would be useful.
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